Assassin’s Creed 3 PC after console

As rumored and as we expected, Ubisoft will again hold the PC release of a new title to follow after the console release. The upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed III is still on track for a console release on October 30th in North America and November 2nd in Europe.

While Ubisoft has yet to officially confirm it, sources tell us that retailers have been told to expect the PC version of Assassin’s Creed III for release in North America on November 20th and for release in Europe on November 23rd, which is about three weeks after the console release.

Ubisoft, like many publishers, has repeatedly cited piracy of the PC versions of their software as the reason that they have elected to hold the PC release of the software until after the console version has been released. It is unknown if this strategy has been as effective as publishers would like in preventing piracy of the PC version of the game or eating into sales of the console version.

Sources tell us that we should expect Ubisoft to officially confirm the release date of the PC version of Assassin’s Creed III closer to the release of the console version of the title. Currently, Ubisoft as well as most retailers who regularly sell PC games continue to list the release date of the PC version as “to be announced”, but that has not stopped many retailers from accepting pre-orders for the title.